I am having issues with my rear window not working...at all. The key and the switch both don't work. Sometimes when driving down the road the back door light will come one. Any help is a appreciated.

 

Sounds like the left side latch is not completely closing. On occassion I will have to re-close my '88 with extra pressure on the left side latch. That is where the switch is for the interlock.

 

Even with your window in the rolled up postion?

 

If you can somehow get the door to drop (not sure the best way to if your window is stuck up) check the bundle of wires to the left side of the door (facing in the same direction as the vehicle goes down the road). This section gets dry and cracked because of bending and heat build up from the exhaust. You might even be able to get at it from under the truck with the door up. My key in the door was not working, only the button was, and it ended up that a couple of these wires were split through. Check that out first, it will probably be an easy fix if you can get at the wires. If you can't, and you can't get the window down, then someone else will need to give you some advice.

 

Thanks to all of you I will attempt both suggestions and see what I get...if nothing does work then when I do find the answer I will post it here...

 

That is the part that is leading me to believe it is the latch switch. The latch itself might not be coming loose, but the microswitch inside might be.

 

I fought this on my 84 for a few days. I finally found the fix on this site. from the research I did, it seems there are 3 things that effect if the window will work.
1. The back wiper blade must come all the way up off the window to complete the sensor for it.

2. On the drivers side, there are bolts that hold the top down to the frame. make sure all are tight. You will have to remove the cover / long piece of plasitic as if you are reemoving the top.

3. Push in on the top left hand side of the gate by where the window goes inside it. There is a switch in there that tells if the back gate is closed. it wears down in time. For me, that was the fix.

If the wiper blade will not come up off the window, you will have to remove covering again, but on the drivers side sitting as if you were in the bed looking out the bcak window. On the upper right side there is a plug where the wiring for the back wiper connect to the wiring of the rig. if you unplug it, the wipers will not work of course, but it also takes the logic of that sensor out of the loop, so you can work the window.

But I bet if you lean on the upper lift side with your left hand as you work the key the window will work.

 

on my 89 i had the back door light on for a long time...because of some of these porblems but i found the answer by taking the tail gate apart...inside there is a little sensor that thouches the lock swicth...over time this sensor wears out(being made of slim metal it will happen sooner or later)...so all you have to do is replace it...or like me unplug it and break off the littel metal piece so it don't get in the way...now with it unpluged the only way the back door light will come on is if the gate is opened...so you don't have to worry about the lock swicth...if and when you open up the gate you'll be able to see waht i mean...just unscerw the inside scerws to get in it...if all else fails try this...

 

:pat: Problem solved thanks you guys it was the close switch. Went outside today and looked at the left side of may door and it was sticking out a little so I pushed it and like magic it worked....thanks for all your advice it really did help.

-Josh

 

Pushing the tailgate will only let you know that the door closed detection switch is the problem.
I had this happen on mine and I think the real issue is wear in the latch assembly itself more so than the switch. Hence, the way that section of the tailgate sticks out. On mine, I could see how the lobes of the latch had worn down and the switch rides on those lobes.
Eventually, you will have to do something to get around it. What I did on mine was to pull the latch assembly and switch and add a tiny screw to the bottom of the peg that rides on the latch. By adjusting that I could make up for the wear. Works great. It doesn't do anything for the fact that the latch is wearing out, but the window will close.
Ultimately, I suspect the best repair is to repair/replace the latch assembly itself. But, heck, if it isn't falling off yet, it can't be that big of a problem right? ;>)

 

Thanks for the quick fix...something to do till I can get a new latch assembly. I am just happy I can get the window down. It has been a whole lot of fun loading the back of my runner through the passenger door...

 

HAHA...I know how that is!

 

if the tailgate sticks out a little, why can't you just adjust the striker instead of replacing the whole latch? just loosen the screws a tiny bit and tap it with a hammer and retighten the screws.

these 1st gen windows have alot of problems. the rear wiper is useless. i took mine off completely. one less thing to worry with. also the second bolt from the rear on the drivers side for the top has to be a factory bolt to activate a switch behind the interior side panel.this switch keeps the window from going up with the top off. i have only four of these bolts left, i seem to lose one every time i take the top off.

then on top of that, the wiper switch has to be turned off wether the wiper actually works or not. i removed this switch also (one less thing). then the window lock has to be connected and working. i can't remove this one so i took it out of the center console and stuffed it under the seat so it wouldn't get bumped.

thats in addition to the issues you guys raised. what a pain. i wouldn't trade it for the world!

 

Has anyone ever built some sort of replacement for the tailgate on 1stgen 4runners? The whole design just seems cumbersome and unreliable to me, although I personally can't think of any way to remedy the situation.

I just wonder how often the window motor, or switch up front, or whatever, fails causing the tailgate to be useless..

 

I wish there was a fix...its just one of those things that is notorious with the 1st gens just like the 4 runner sag...